New Bedford holiday ornaments available

NEW BEDFORD — Holiday ornaments commemorating historic city landmarks are still available.

NEW BEDFORD — Holiday ornaments commemorating historic city landmarks are still available.

Every Christmas between 1990 and 2004, Downtown New Bedford Inc. commissioned a limited number of silver-plated tree ornaments commemorating a major downtown landmark. Each came with a card describing its historical significance. Most were sold but a few remain, officials said. So for the past couple of years DNB has been offering the ornaments to the public for $5.

"People still buy them as gifts because they are pretty and have meaningful significance," said Diane Arsenault, executive director at DNB.

The library requested a set last year. Janice Hodgson, the library's art curator, said "We wanted them because they were designed locally and they reflect what sites Downtown New Bedford Inc. sees as defining New Bedford at a specific period in time."

Arthur Bennett, who wrote some of the text for the commemorative cards, said he has all 14. His favorites are the Whaleman, the Ernestina and the Palmer's Island lighthouse.

"I love the city and I love downtown so I like all of them. But those three stand out the way they are designed," he said.

For more information, call the DNB office at 508-990-2777 or visit Celia's Boutique, 111 William St.

— Auditi Guha

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